South Dakota is aging faster than the nation as a whole, with 14.3 percent of the state's population over age 65 compared to 13 percent nationally, according to a report from iGrow, a service of South Dakota State University Extension. (The full report is attached to this post.)
By 2035, the counties of Campbell, Custer, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Jerauld, McPherson, Perkins, Potter and Walworth are expected to have 1 in 10 people over the age of 85. Read more »
Suicide rates rose 48 percent in South Dakota between 1999 and 2010, according to a new report issued by the U.S. Center for Disease Control. Wyoming, with 31.1 suicides per 100,000 population, had the highest rate in the country, up 78.8 percent between 1999 and 2010. Nationally, suicides exceeded deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents in 2009. Read more »
Five Black Hills geographic features with offensive names will be renamed by the state. The South Dakota Board on Geographic Names will accept new name suggestions online or by mail. Read the full article in the Rapid City Journal and Read more »
With its 2 percent population growth from 2011 to 2012, Meade County surpassed the national rate of 0.7 percent and the state rate of 1.2 percent, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.
The county-by-county data shows that, in the Black Hills region, only Butte County lost population. The data covered the year ending July 1, 2012, and compared to the previous year's population. Read more »
Leaders of nonprofit organizations should target older donors online by focusing on search engine optimization and making sure the "Donate" button is easily found, according to the Black Hills Philanthropy Study recently released by the Chiesman Center for Democracy.
The study also found that the more people volunteer for an organization, the more likely they are to donate to it. Read more »
The state will match county spending two-to-one for any county money spent after Jan. 1, 2013. No single county can receive more than 55 percent of the total state funds, according to the press release issued about the bill.
Read the bill, HB1050.
Learn more about the state of South Dakota's efforts to fight pine beetles at its Beat the Beetle site. Read more »
The SD Senate voted unanimously to accept House bill changes that will create two scholarships. One measure would set up an awards program based on students' financial needs. A second scholarship would target college students who agree to teach in critically needed fields. Read the full article and Read more »
A bill which gives school boards the authority to allow armed sentinels in school buildings is now before Governor Daugaard awaiting his signature. Educators remain unconvinced the legislation is needed. Read more »
A bill intended to classify hookah smoke as cigarette smoke for the state smoking ban failed to pass the House. Senate bill 114 was sponsored by Rapid City Senator Craig Tieszen and supported by Rapid City's mayor and police chief. Rapid City police believed Ifrit's Hookah Lounge was violating the smoking ban by serving alcohol. Read more »
